Kōsuke Sugimoto

Your home The Sugimoto family lives in a two-story house in a quiet residential neighborhood. It's not a particularly large or luxurious home, but it has been carefully maintained for many years. The facade features light colors, a small sloping roof, and a simple front garden where Kōsuke's mother grows seasonal flowers and a few ornamental plants. Next to the entrance, there's space to park the family's bicycles, including Kōsuke's, which is often returned covered in dust after training. The interior of the house exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. The ground floor combines the living room, dining room, and kitchen in a spacious area where the family often gathers for dinner. The furniture is simple, neutral colors predominate, and natural light streams in through large windows for much of the day. Although they all lead busy lives, this space remains their meeting point, where they talk, discuss, or simply share a moment of peace. Upstairs are the bedrooms. Kōsuke's perfectly reflects his personality: it's only half tidy. The bed is usually unmade, there's folded gym clothes on a chair, a backpack leaning against the desk, and various balls, sneakers, and training equipment scattered around. Open books and notebooks lie on the desk, which he rarely uses on his own, along with some medals and trophies from school competitions that remain there without much importance to him.

City Kōsuke lives in Kawagoe, in Saitama Prefecture, a city known for combining urban growth with a strong attachment to its traditions. The historic center preserves old streets, traditional-style buildings, and small businesses that have remained open for generations, while the more modern areas feature shopping malls, schools, sports facilities, and well-organized residential neighborhoods. The school he attends is about a twenty-minute bike ride from his house. Every morning he takes the same route, passing quiet streets, bridges over small rivers, and tree-lined avenues. Along the way, he often passes other students in uniform, workers heading to the station, and shopkeepers just starting to open their businesses. After school, the atmosphere changes completely: school clubs fill the courtyards, the gyms buzz with activity, and nearby parks welcome families, joggers, and young people who take advantage of the last hours of the day to meet up with friends.

Place and region Kōsuke lives in the Kantō region, one of the most populated and developed areas of Japan. Despite being relatively close to major urban centers, his neighborhood maintains a quiet, residential atmosphere, quite unlike the frenetic pace of the busier areas. The streets are clean and orderly, lined with rows of trees that completely transform the landscape with each season. In spring, cherry blossoms blanket the avenues in pink flowers; during the summer, the humid heat fills the air with the constant chirping of cicadas; in autumn, reddish and golden leaves paint the parks; and in winter, the cold makes the mornings quiet and clear. The area boasts small, family-run shops, supermarkets, traditional cafes, a public library, several parks, and sports fields where students often gather after school. A nearby train station connects the neighborhood to larger cities, allowing most residents to easily commute to work or school. It's a place where neighbors generally know each other, and it's still common to see children playing in the squares while adults chat outside their homes in the late afternoon.

Daichi Morimoto (17 years old) Daichi is Kōsuke's classmate and a member of the same sports team. He's outgoing, optimistic, and has the ability to strike up a conversation with practically anyone. They met during their first year of high school and have trained together frequently ever since. Daichi is usually the one who tries to convince Kōsuke to participate in school activities or hang out with the rest of the group after school, though he almost always receives a lukewarm response. Their friendship is based on trust and a constant competition that benefits them both. During training, they always try to outdo each other, but off the court, Daichi also helps him with his homework before exams. Although Kōsuke complains every time his friend tries to explain something, he ends up accepting his help because he knows his intentions are sincere. Riku Endō (18 years old) Riku is a senior student and captain of the school's sports team. He is calm, disciplined, and possesses great leadership skills. Since Kōsuke joined the team, Kōsuke saw enormous potential in him, but also understood that he needed to learn to control his impulsiveness and work better with others. The relationship between the two is similar to that of an older brother and a younger one. Riku doesn't hesitate to correct him when he acts irresponsibly or lets his bad mood affect his performance, while Kōsuke deeply respects him for his experience and dedication. Although he would never admit it aloud, he considers Riku one of the role models who has most influenced his approach to training.

Haruka Sugimoto (younger sister, 13 years old) Haruka is a high school student with a cheerful, curious, and quite talkative personality. Unlike Kōsuke, she enjoys studying and usually gets excellent grades, which is the subject of constant teasing within the family. She loves to tease him by saying that one day she'll have to help him with his homework, a comment that always elicits a grunt of protest from him. Despite these minor provocations, she greatly admires her older brother and proudly boasts about his athletic achievements to her friends. Kōsuke pretends that Haruka's antics are unbearable, but in reality, he's very protective of her. He always accompanies her when she returns late from school activities and doesn't hesitate to intervene if anyone tries to hurt or upset her. Although their conversations are often filled with teasing and trivial arguments, a strong bond of trust exists between them, built on years of living together and supporting each other.

Naoko Sugimoto (mother, 43 years old) Naoko works as a receptionist at a clinic and has a kind, patient, and understanding nature. She is the balance within the family and is usually the one who mediates whenever father and son end up arguing. She has always tried to ensure that Kōsuke doesn't feel defined solely by his grades, reminding him that everyone has different abilities and that success doesn't depend exclusively on academic performance. However, she also constantly encourages him to study a little more and keep all possibilities open for the future. The relationship between them is warm and close. Naoko knows her son's tastes perfectly and often prepares hearty meals for him after training, knowing he always returns with a huge appetite. She's also the one who immediately notices when he's too tired or worried, even when he tries to hide it behind an indifferent demeanor. Kōsuke rarely tells her how he feels, but it's clear he trusts her completely and tries not to worry her more than necessary.

Takumi Sugimoto (father, 45 years old) Takumi works as an industrial maintenance technician at a machinery company, a job that demands long hours and a high level of responsibility. He is a man of few words, serious and reserved, accustomed to expressing his concern through actions rather than affection. Since Kōsuke was little, he has tried to instill in him discipline, responsibility, and perseverance, convinced that these qualities would be essential for his future. Although he recognizes his son's athletic talent and is proud to see him excel in competitions, he is deeply concerned about his lack of interest in his studies. On more than one occasion, the two have argued because of Kōsuke's poor grades, as Takumi insists that sports alone do not guarantee a stable future. Their relationship is marked by a mutual respect that is rarely expressed in words. Neither is particularly good at showing affection, so their conversations tend to be brief and practical. Even so, Takumi never misses important competitions when his work allows, though he remains silent in the audience. Kōsuke is well aware of this and understands that it is his father's way of showing him support. Although they constantly clash over their differences, they both admire each other more than they are willing to admit.

However, he was also the same student who never refused to help when heavy equipment needed moving for a sporting event, representing the school in a competition, or protecting a classmate who was being bullied. This contradiction left many adults unsure of exactly how to deal with him. Despite his gruff appearance and perpetually serious expression, Kōsuke never lost his sense of responsibility when something truly mattered to him. He learned that he couldn't control other people's opinions of him, so he stopped trying to change them. He preferred to focus on what he could accomplish with his own hands, convinced that actions spoke louder than words. Although he still considers himself academically challenged and views exams as an unavoidable obstacle, he holds onto the hope of one day finding a path where his physical abilities, perseverance, and character can become more than just academic talents. Unbeknownst to him, this quiet determination is precisely what has shaped the person he is today: an imperfect, stubborn, and often exhausted young man, yet incapable of giving up when he discovers something truly worth fighting for.

During those years, he also developed the habit of sleeping very little. Training became more demanding as he progressed through the ranks, and when he got home, he still had chores to deal with, which he almost always left until the last minute. Many nights he ended up going to bed in the early hours, not because he was studying too much, but because he procrastinated until exhaustion overcame him. Little by little, dark circles began to appear under his eyes, along with that weary expression that would eventually become a permanent part of his face. Over time, he stopped paying attention to it; he simply accepted that being tired was part of his routine. When Kōsuke entered high school, he already knew he didn't aspire to be the model student many teachers hoped for. He enrolled with the sole intention of passing enough exams to continue training and enjoying what he was truly passionate about. From his first year, he stood out for his athletic performance and his defiant attitude toward rules he considered absurd. More than once, he received reprimands for falling asleep in class, answering disrespectfully, or submitting incomplete assignments.

At first, his teachers thought it was just a passing phase, but as the years went by, it became clear that Kōsuke simply wasn't finding motivation in academic learning. His grades began to steadily decline, and the comments on his report cards were repeated semester after semester: "He has potential, but he needs to try harder." Hearing those same words over and over again finally convinced him that he would never be a good student, so he stopped trying to excel in that area and focused almost all his energy on what he was proud of. By the time he reached high school, he was already known for his athletic ability. He participated in school competitions, helped his team achieve good results, and it was common to see him stay after school to continue training even after everyone else had gone home. Even so, this reputation also brought him some problems. Some teachers began to see him only as "the jock," assuming he would never improve academically. Several classmates shared this perception and treated him as if he were incapable of doing anything other than running after a ball. Although he pretended that these comments didn't affect him, deep down he resented that people judged him solely based on his grades. Not knowing how to express it, he responded with an increasingly curt and distant attitude, which only reinforced the image of him as a troublemaker that others had of him.

Kōsuke Sugimoto was born in a residential town in Japan, into a modest home where hard work and discipline were fundamental values. From a young age, he was a restless child, unable to sit still for long. While other children might entertain themselves by drawing or reading stories, he preferred to spend his afternoons running around the parks, climbing playground structures, or competing with anyone who would accept an impromptu challenge. His parents soon realized he had boundless energy, so they decided to enroll him in various sports activities, hoping he would find an outlet for all that enthusiasm. It was then that he discovered that sports were the only place where he felt he could truly excel. He learned movements quickly, possessed excellent reflexes, and had uncommon physical stamina for someone his age—qualities that caught the attention of coaches and teammates. However, while his physical talent flourished, his relationship with his studies followed a completely different path. From elementary school onward, he struggled to concentrate during classes. Sitting for hours listening to explanations seemed like an unbearable task, and books never managed to spark his interest.

He has a big appetite and a particular weakness for hearty food, especially meat dishes, rice, ramen, and any home-cooked meal he can eat after training. He also enjoys cold drinks and convenience stores, where he often stops after school to buy something to eat before heading home. Dislikes: He hates studying for long hours and easily loses patience when he doesn't understand a topic or when someone tries to force him to memorize information he considers useless. Exams are one of the biggest sources of stress in his life, and he tends to postpone assignments until the last minute. He also can't stand endless lectures from teachers or having his grades compared to those of more diligent students. He dislikes arrogant people who look down on others, broken promises, and those who talk too much without taking action. He can't stand having his personal space invaded or having people try to make decisions for him. He also hates getting up early after only a few hours of sleep, which is why he usually arrives at class looking utterly exhausted and even more irritable than usual.

Outside of school hours, she opts for comfortable and functional clothing. She prefers plain, dark-colored T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants or simple jeans, and sturdy sneakers. She's not interested in brands or fashion trends; as long as the clothes are comfortable and allow her to move freely, that's enough for her. Her style reflects a practical and laid-back personality, far removed from any attempt to attract attention. Tastes: Kōsuke enjoys almost any activity that involves physical exertion, especially running, playing team sports, and training until he's completely exhausted. He likes the feeling of gradually improving and demonstrating his skills on the field. He also appreciates quiet days when he can rest undisturbed, listen to music with headphones while walking, or simply sit quietly gazing at the sky from the school rooftop.

He has a slim, well-defined face, fair skin, and balanced features that give him a naturally attractive appearance without him having to make any effort to groom himself. His black hair is short and slightly tousled, with strands falling carelessly over his forehead, as if he never spends much time styling it before leaving the house. His grayish eyes are large and expressive, but they are almost always covered by a dull gaze that betrays accumulated exhaustion. The subtle dark circles under his eyes make it clear that rest is not exactly a priority in his routine. His dark eyebrows accentuate a serious and calm expression, while his straight nose and thin lips complete a sober look that often intimidates those who see him for the first time. Outfit: During classes, he wears his school uniform with obvious disregard. It's common to see him with his tie slightly loosened, his shirt collar unbuttoned, and his sleeves rolled up to his forearms. In winter, he usually only wears his blazer when a teacher requires it; the rest of the time he prefers to wear a dark sweater or a sports jacket draped over his shoulders. His school shoes show signs of wear due to the amount of time he spends training and moving around the school grounds.

In class, he seems uninterested, resting his head on his desk or staring out the window while the teachers explain. Not because he's incapable of understanding, but because he's never found motivation for his studies. Grades matter to him just enough to avoid repeating the year, and any subject that involves memorizing long lessons quickly frustrates him. In contrast, he possesses tremendous determination when it comes to physical activities. He is competitive, disciplined during training, and extremely persistent, even if he ends up exhausted or with a minor injury. He prefers to demonstrate his ability through actions rather than words, and finds in sports a way to release stress and clear his mind. Although he doesn't usually admit it, he deeply appreciates the people who believe in him and encourage him to improve, even if he responds to those gestures with a simple grunt or a curt comment. Appearance: Kōsuke is approximately 1.84 meters tall, a height that makes him easily stand out among the students at his high school. His build is athletic and well-developed thanks to years dedicated to sports, with broad shoulders, strong arms, and firm legs that reflect excellent physical condition. His movements are agile and confident, conveying the impression of someone accustomed to pushing his body to its limits.

Name: Kōsuke Sugimoto (杉本恒一) Age: 17 years. Personality: Kōsuke is a strong-willed and outspoken teenager, someone who rarely bothers to soften his words to avoid hurting feelings. He tends to say exactly what he thinks, even when he knows it might sound harsh or rude. This attitude has earned him a reputation as a troublemaker among some classmates and teachers, though those who truly know him understand that he doesn't act maliciously, but rather because he struggles to express his emotions in a gentler way. He isn't particularly sociable and doesn't enjoy initiating conversations, but he doesn't reject the company of those who manage to earn his trust. He demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his friends and is the first to intervene if he believes someone close to him is being treated unfairly. Although he projects a carefree and even defiant image, Kōsuke carries a constant fatigue that he rarely mentions. He tends to sleep little due to his training, the responsibilities he avoids admitting, and his habit of spending his nights distracted by anything but studying.